Archive for
March 19th, 2009
Stories
Brazil: Controversial demarcation of indigenous land confirmed
Five indigenous tribes of Brazil have won a 30-year battle to reclaim 1.7 million hectares of their ancestral land in Roraima in the Amazon on the border to Venezuela and Guyana. On March 19, the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) ruled on the integrity of the Raposa Serra do Sol indigenous land, keeping its size and borders intact as a continuous area, disappointing ranchers and rice farmers who coveted the land.
The court deliberations began in August 2008, but the trial was suspended twice. In December, one of the 11 judges hearing the case, Marco Aurélio Mello, requested the case to be adjourned for further investigations, even though 8 judges had already cast their votes in favour of the current demarcation. Voting resumed on Wednesday, March 18, and despite the fact that there were only 3 judges left to cast their votes, a decision was not reached by end of day as expected.
Indians at the Brazilian Supreme Court in Brasília. Photo: Antonio Cruz/ABr used under a Creative Commons license
Aurélio Mello was the first to speak yesterday, reading a 120-page ruling over six hours. He voted against the current demarcation of Raposa Serra do Sol because, “errors committed during the process should invalidate the demarcation,” and argued that the integrity of the reserve as it is now may put Brazilian national sovereignty at risk. He suggested a new demarcation process.
Mércio Gomes [pt] laments his vote:
Foi péssimo. Trata-se de um longo e caudaloso pronunciamento em que o ministro considera processo viciado pela falta de diversas ações, depoimentos, deslocamento da parte passiva, etc. O voto parcial do ministro Marco Aurélio requer que todo o processo seja “sanado”, o que exigiria uma série de providências que adiaria para as calendas gregas a decisão sobre o processo.
Some bloggers, on the other hand, congratulated Marco Aurélio de Melo for having cast the first vote against the demarcation. Among them, José Leite Mesquita [pt] thought the judge made a very lucid decision:
O voto do ministro será resgatado pela história quando o Brasil deixar de ser um Estado Federativo, e tiver se transformado, conforme estará sacramentado pela maioria de votos favoráveis, num Estado de Nações, por conta do surrealismo que manterá a demarcação contínua das terras indígenas na Reserva Raposa Serra do Sol.
Assistimos espantados, e temerosos, pouco mais de 200 mil indivíduos, alguns já aculturados, ter a posse permanente de 13% do território brasileiro.
A Constituição é clara: a terra é da união. Os índios tem a posse permanente.
This judge will be redeemed by history when Brazil ceases to be a federal state and becomes a state of [indigenous] nations to be formalized by the majority of votes [in favour of the demarcation] because of the surrealism that maintains the indigenous lands in Raposa Serra do Sol as a single reservation. We have watched, amazed and afraid, just over 200 thousand individuals, some of whom already acculturated, having permanent possession of 13% of the Brazilian territory. The Constitution is clear: the land belongs to the federation. The Indians have its permanent possession.
Just outside the Brazilian Supreme Court in Brasília. Photo: Antonio Cruz/ABr used under a Creative Commons license
It was early evening on Wednesday when judge Marco Aurélio Mello finished his long speech, and only one more judge had time to vote. This judge, Celso de Mello, did not need much time to vote in favour of the indigenous people. The final vote, by the court president judge Gilmar Mendes, was postponed to Thursday afternoon. Watching live on a video stream provided by Povos Indigenas, people posted remarks on Twitter from throughout the country. After nearly two hours, @povosindigenas announced [pt]:
#raposa Placar 10X1 a favor da demarcação contínua….
In the Supreme Court in Brasília. Photo: Antonio Cruz/ABr used under a Creative Commons license
Over 3,000 indigenous people gathered to watch the court proceedings either in Brasília, where the trial took place, in the state capital's Boa Vista or in Raposa Serra do Sol. Because of tensions between tribes and local farmers in the past, the national guard were stationed on the land to contain any eventual violence after the verdict.
Luiz Valerio Silva [pt] is covering the ruling from the Surumú community where 200 people awaits the result. He says the decision days went over peacefully there:
Os índios favoráveis à homologação contínua da reserva índigena Raposa Serra do Sol dançam a parixara e a arerúnia desde as primeiras horas da manhã. Eles estão certos da vitória. Creem que a demarcação pernamecerá em área contínua. (…)
A vila Surumú comporta neste momento, entre moradores e indígenas que vieram de fora para comemorar o resultado do julgamento, algo em torno de 400 pessoas. Ao todo, cinquenta famílias moram na vila. A estimativa é que cerca de 200 índios foram trazido para cá pelo Conselho Indígena de Roraima (CIR). Antes, falava-se em cerca de 3.000 mil índios. (…)
Entre os que esperam com ansiedade pela voto dos três ministros do STF que ainda falta se manifestar sobre o assunto, já há preparativos para uma intensa noite de forró em comemoração à confirmação da demarcação contínua da reserva. Sob um sol de mais de 40 graus, índios se movimentam nas ruas empoeiradas do Surrumu, aguardando a decisão.
Among those waiting anxiously for the three last ministers to vote, preparations are underway for an intense evening of forró dancing to celebrate the confirmation of the full demarcation of the reserve. Beneath a 40-degree sun, the Indians move around in the dusty streets of Surumú, awaiting the decision.
Just outside the Brazilian Supreme Court in Brasília. Photo: Antonio Cruz/ABr used under a Creative Commons license
After confirming the integrity of the reserve, the court discussed canceling farmers' deeds, conditions and deadlines for the remaining farmers to leave the area, and the 18 additional measures that the Indians will have to abide by. Most ranchers and some rice farmers had already left the territory in exchange for compensation from the government, but a small group of rice farmers refused. These farmers, many of whom have been there for over two decades and were backed by powerful regional political and economic interests, are now expected to leave immediately (with a deadline up to May) or be evicted by police.
At Raposa Serra do Sol, a group of Indians watch the ruling on TV. Photo: Valter Campanato/ABr published under a Creative Commons License.
An estimated 18,000 indigenous peoples from the Macuxi, Wapixana, Ingaricó, Taurepangs and Patamona tribes live in the area known as Serra Raposa do Sol, a reserve created by the Brazilian government in 2005.
Long awaited victory for Baha'is in Egypt
After many years of being denied the right to legal documentation, Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court removed any grounds for preventing Baha'is from receiving proper official identity documents.
SandMonkey commented on the court ruling saying:
This will mean that they will be able to lead a more normal and humane lifestyle, as opposed to the daily humiliation they would receive in order to get any paperwork done with the Egyptian government- from getting birth certificates, to applying to school and colleges to getting IDs passports, and death certificates.
Then he wonders if other Egyptians, in the aftermath of this verdict will
start demanding to get their religious status removed as well, even if they are not Baha'i? Would that be possible? Is that a step in the direction of abolishing the religion category from the Egyptian ID forever? One hopes, but that's still too far away. Too many people are clinging to it for reasons that simply do not make sense to me. So, if you are one of those people, and you are against removing it, please ask yourself, what good, exactly, does it do? And if you have an answer, let me know. I am intrigued!
Wa7da Masrya commented saying:
Voice of Egypt commended the Egyptian judiciary system saying:
And speaking of religion, The Traveller Within, shared Gallup Survey announcing that Egypt is the most religious country in the world
Interestingly, 7 out of the top 10 most religious countries are majority Muslim countries. And 8 out of 10 are in Sub-Saharan African or East Asia.
The link between underdevelopment and religiosity (not religion: religiosity) is one I'd be keen to explore…
Morocco: Cutting Ties With Iran
Early last week, it was reported that Rabat had chosen to sever ties with Tehran, after a diplomatic spat between Bahrain and Iran over a statement by an Iranian official questioning Bahrain's sovereignty. Additionally, Morocco expressed resentment at Iran's alleged attempts to influence Moroccans in Europe toward Shi'a Islam.
Ibn Kafka, who also covered the story on his French-language blog, wrote a piece in the new Maghreb affairs blog Maghreb Politics Review, assessing the situation and offering this excellent timeline of events:
The turns and twists of the Morocco-Iran spat deserve a proper timeline. Here are the main events, as far as I have been able to track them:
February 11: Nouri makes his comments on Bahrain, causing widespread condemnation - Morocco joins the chorus.
February 20: Iran summons Morocco’s chargé d’affaires in Teheran, Mohamed Darif, over “the stances taken by the Moroccan king“. In a message to his Bahraini counterpart, Mohammed VI had described Nouri’s declarations as “abject” as well as “absurd“: «Ces déclarations abjectes à l’endroit d’un pays arabe frère et membre actif dans son environnement régional et au sein de la communauté internationale ont suscité notre fort étonnement et notre profonde inquiétude (…) Nous considérons de même que ces déclarations absurdes sont en contradiction flagrante avec les principes et les règles du droit international, ainsi qu’avec les valeurs de coexistence et de bon voisinage auxquelles incite Notre religion islamique tolérante». The Moroccan chargé d’affaires allegedly took a low profile during that meeting, replying that “Morocco is interested in expanding relations with Iran, which he called a regional power with an ancient civilization“. A communiqué by the official Iranian press agency IRNA is allegedly published (I haven’t found it though), evoking that call-up and criticising Morocco for its reaction.
February 22: Morocco’s foreign minister, Taïeb Fassi Fihri, travels to Bahrain to convey a personal message from King Mohammed VI to King Hamad Ibn Aissa Al Khalifa, a gesture widely publicised in Moroccan media as well as on the Moroccan foreign ministry’s website.
February 23: Taïeb Fassi Fihri meets with Bahraini prime minister Sheikh Khalifa Ben Salman Al-Khalifa.
February 25: On his return from Bahrain, Taïeb Fassi Fihri summons Iranian ambassador to Morocco, Vahid Ahmadi, to convey him Morocco’s displeasure at Iran’s call-up of Morocco’s chargé d’affaires and strong rejection of the wording of the IRNA communiqué mentioned earlier. Morocco’s chargé d’affaires is called back for consultations in Rabat for one week on the same day.
February 26: Taïeb Fassi Fihri reiterates Morocco’s “astonishment” at being allegedly singled out by Iran over its support for Bahrain’s territorial integrity - Morocco’s chargé d’affaires would apparently have been the only foreign head of mission to have been summoned to the Iranian ministry of foreign affairsover the issue, despite the many other Arab and non-Arab countries taking a similar stance - at least if we are to believe Morocco’s MAEC.
March 6: Morocco decides to break off diplomatic relations with Iran - if the diplomatic spat over the Bahrain affair is still mentioned, the sectarian aspect is given much larger proeminence - Iran’s embassy is accused of having meddled in internal Moroccan affairs by proselytising - claims that had never been raised previously on an official level. The spat has continued thereafter, with Iran chiding Morocco over its decision, and Morocco asserting its sovereign right to break off diplomatic relations with whomever it wants.
Some remarks are in order: while Iran initiated this diplomatic tit-for-tat, Morocco upped the ante considerably by recalling its chargé d’affaires - a step no other Arab country (1) has taken over this dispute, not even Bahrain. This is quite an escalade in diplomatic terms. It may be recalled that Morocco undertook the same step - recalling its ambassador - when Spain’s Juan Carlos made an official visit in November 2007 to the Spanish enclaves in Morocco, Sebta and Mlilia, over which Morocco claims sovereignty. Bahrain’s territorial integrity - if one accepts that Nouri’s statements could reasonably be perceived as a threat - would thus appear as equally worthy of diplomatic action as Sebta and Mlilia, which might come as news to Morocco’s public - not that anyone bothered to consult them over this issue…
In an excellent post, Adilski of A Moro in America asks the tough question “Was Rabat's decision justified?” The blogger muses:
Because of Iran's rising popularity in the Arab and Islamic world for its support to Hamas and Hizballah against Israel, any hostile gesture from a Muslim country towards it would be unpopular and unacceptable; and so was Morocco when it decided to cut ties.
What is more surprising and suspicious to many people is that the arguments being used by the Moroccan diplomacy are too weak at worst and contradictory at best. While Mr. Fassi Fihri, the Moroccan FM, said the decision was prompted by Iran's singling out of Morocco regarding the Bahrain comments, spokesman of the Moroccan government, Mr Nasiri, claimed Iran has been engaging in a campaign to spread Shi'ism among Moroccans in Europe and inside the kingdom itself.
These dissonant official statements not only reveal the weakness of Rabat's arguments, but also reveal the defensive posture of the Moroccan diplomacy after realizing it was indeed an unpopular decision both domestically and regionally.
While the Bahrain story does not hold much ground in justifying the decision, there are other possible explanations that make more sense, though they are not disclosed officially, for obvious reasons.
Morocco maintains good relations with two U.S. allies in the Middle East, namely, Israel and Saudi Arabia, which also happened to be sworn enemies of Iran for ideological and political reasons. Those two nations are more likely to be behind the Moroccan-Iranian diplomatic crisis than any other factor.
Thailand: PM meets exiled scholar and critic at Oxford
Giles/Ji Ungpakorn is Thai political science scholar who criticized Thai monarchy. Last month he wrote the ‘Red Siam’ Manifesto (see previous post) and then fled to UK to avoid the infamous Lèse majesté charge. He is half Thai-British, holding UK citizenship and graduated from Durham.
Abhisit Vejjajiva is the current Thailand's prime minister. He comes from elite class, born in Newcastle and Oxford educated. His Democrat party has been accused for supporting the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), a royalist movement, to seize Bangkok airport last November/December. The Democrat party also has been accused for using Lèse majesté against their opponents for long long time in Thailand's modern history.
On 16th March 2009, Abhisit was invited to speech at St. John College, Oxford as a successful alumnus. Giles also attended and asked questions in the forum. So here is the video of that conversation by two leaders, both are UK graduated, of totally different mantra, in UK. (more…)
Guatemala: A Violin in Silence After Murder of Youth
The latest victims to violence in a situation that Amnesty International describes as “Millions of Guatemalans are now living under the threat of violence and poverty,” are a young violinist, Hans Castro and his two companions Andrea Robledo and Edwin Urrea. The murders took place in the outskirts of Guatemala City and their bodies were found in an area called La Quebradita of the village of Valle de la Cruz [es].
Photo by Midiman and used under a Creative Commons license
Bloggers are mourning the loss of Castro, who was a member of the Symphonic Orchestra Conservatory, had been playing the violin for the 11 of his 18 years. The news hit Sakis González of Una Hoja de Papel [es] especially close to home because Castro was his sister's best friend as he writes in his post “The Orchestra Mourns a Violin, My Sister Mourns a Friend”:
La casa de estudios musicales de Hans se llenó de familiares, conocidos, amigos y compañeros de Orquesta tras el funeral. Interprentando una melancólica pieza, prorrumpieron en llanto aquellos que con un rostro cansado de tan gran sollozo, frotaron sus arcos y soplaron con el alma una hermosa melodía proveniente más que de sus instrumentos, del corazón, dedicada a quien en vida fue un joven ejemplar.
The Music School which Hans used to attend was crowded with family members, friends and their orchestra mates following the funeral. They played a melancholic piece, and people started to weep with their faces reflecting their tearful suffering, they placed their fingers on the strings and played a beautiful melody, which did not come from the musical instruments, but from their hearts dedicated to an exemplary young man.
Letras de Mariomarch [es] confesed that it was difficult to write about the topic, but it was also an obligation to say something for the memory of Hans Castro in the post “A Murdered Violin”:
Escribo éstas lineas, que seguramente no leerán sus familiares, para expresar y lamentar que lo que ha sucedido. ¿qué esperanza podemos tener en un pais en donde se asesina a jovenes artistas? ¿que podemos hacer para consolar a la patria, a nuestra sociedad, a la orquesta del conservatorio? ¿acaso hay algo que podamos decir a su padre el Maestro Castro, a su madre, a sus amigos y familia? Es vergonzoso, un joven que se dedica a tratar de ser diferente -todo artista lo es- ve truncada su vida por un asesino, mientras la mayoria lee la noticia y lamentablemente como es normal y usual, es simplemente una nota roja mas; y no es que la vida del joven Castro sea mas valiosa que la de otro joven, ni mucho menos; pero sin duda su muerte debe ser el ejemplo mas claro de la estupidez humana en éste país en los últimos tiempos. El violín asesinado debe estar interpretando una sonata de dolor y de decepción, esa que todos escuchamos todos los días en este ingrato pais.
I am writing this lines, which probably none of his family members will ever read, but I want to express and regret the situation. Is there still any hope for a country where young artists are murdered? What can we do to express our condolences to a nation, our society, to our National Orchestra? Is there any possible word to say to his father, to his mother, to friends and family? It is a real shame, a teenager that tries to be special - all artists are special - and their life is shattered by a murder, while the people read the news, and regrettably, it is the normal attitude of people, for them is just another violent piece of news. I am not saying that Castro's life is more valuable than the life of other young people, but I have no doubt that his murder is the clearest example of human stupidity of our country in our times. The murdered violin must now be playing a sonata of pain and dissapointment, the sonata we Guatemalans listen to every day in this ungrateful country.
In the midst of the ongoing violence, which ended the lives of Robledo, Tobar and Castro, the Guatemalan Congress is debating a new gun bill, and the United Nations' International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG for its initials in Spanish) is currently underway to help the country investigate and dismantle, “violent criminal organizations believed to be responsible for widespread crime and the paralysis in the country's justice system.”
However, the country lost a very promising young musician. As the philosopher Victor Hugo said, “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.”
The Pope in Cameroon (2): Of Clerics, Corruption and Politics
The visit of the head of the Roman Catholic Church to Cameroon this March 2009 has ignited some Cameroonian bloggers to point the search lights on the political effects (if any) of a Papal visit to country like this. Neba Fuh blogging at Voice of the Oppressed is one of them:
Two times before, Late Pope John Paul II visited The Cameroons and the effect on the already impoverished populace was nothing more than a religious euphoria at the expense of their personal financial contributions and the public treasury. The unanswered questions of the Biya's repressive acts were still unanswered.
Aloysius Agendia, a journalist and ex-seminarian in a post entitled Pope Benedict XVI visit to AFRICA : Going beyond spiritual rhetoric seems to suggest that the Church should denounce acts by states and politicains that harm the people's interest instead of being clothed in diplomatic robes:
We understand the Church and the Vatican as a state, and as a religious body, though with political connotations, sometimes has to be diplomatic in its approach. In my opinion, true religion must not be indifferent to injustices, oppression, exploitation, colonialism in all its forms and other vices. The Catholic Church has done much and is still doing a lot but a lot more still has to be done.However, diplomacy though good in its own ways, must not be of too common usage in the Church because, a spade must be called a spade. In trying to always use “subtle” means to explain burning issues, the message is either lost or the meaning/importance, seriously minimized. Church leaders must not choose to dine only with those in power, the rich, and the powerful. They must not necessarily be with the opposition, but, they should stand beside the weak, the oppressed, the sick etc.
He is clear about what he expects from the Pope:
As a spiritual leader who represents hope, he must not only tell us to just keep waiting and hoping. We expect him to be courageous enough to tell those thwarting the hope of Cameroonians and Africans to at least, have some feelings for human beings and or their fellow citizens.
On the other hand, Voice of the Oppressed wonders if the clergy particularly in Cameroon has the moral high ground to demand change from those who govern the country when they themselves are not shinning examples:
What lessons can an already morally impoverished society learn from a bishop or priest who fathers children haphazardly in his community?
What lessons can that society learn from a priest who has numerous ‘girlfriends' in his community, under the excuse that he is only as human as everybody else?
Or sponsored a girlfriend's trip abroad, away from his community, so she can bear him kids, and when he takes his vacation or study leave, he's welcome abroad by ‘his wife' and ‘children'?
Or a Principal of a school,who is a priest, who embezzles school money through fake bills and accounting?
Or priests that have become predators to vulnerable children put at their disposal?
To Aloysius Agendia should Pope Benedict XVI of the perceived waywardness of Catholic prelates in Cameroon:
As the Holy Father visits Cameroon and Africa , he should note this. First and foremost, the Catholic Church and most of its (shepherds) in Cameroon in particular, need serious “redressing” or “overhauling”. The numerous stories about promiscuity, extravagance and gallivanting attitudes of some of our priests including some bishops, some even go as far as bearing children, others fornicating with their students, peoples’ wives, parishioners etc must be addressed…
This blogger belives if these issues of corruption within the Roman Catholic Church in Cameroon are not handled by the Pope then the visit would have no meaning to him:
Mortgaging the Church and its assets for “loans”, as if to sell Jesus Christ again for FCFA 950.000. 000 as Judas did for 30 pieces of silver. Tis follows using a famous Cathedral in Cameroon as a security for a loan taken by one of its bishop. The serious and terrifying cases of embezzlement among others, merit papal attention. These are issues which if the Pope fails to address even in private with his priests, then his mission to Cameroon, I must admit, must have fallen far belowexpectations, and why not, a non-starter.
Will the Pope dare? That may be the next point of interest of the Cameroonian blogosphere.
Note: Part 1 of this post is found here.
Links for Thu, 2009-03
Thinking About Nepal believes that: “if Nepali parents are able to indoctrinate in their children a sense of individualism along with respect for community and elders, Nepal will have a citizenry that will able to deal with most challenges faced today and in the future.”
Oluniyi writes about BarCamp Nigeria, which will take place next month. Justin Hartman, the co-founder of Afrigator is one of the speakers.
The World Wide Web turned 20 on Friday. Mohamed Nanabhay, based in Doha, Qatar, reminisces on the occasion. Click on the link to see his interview with Al Jazeera.
South African blog, Glad to be a girl is the winner of the Best African Weblog award at the Ninth Annual Weblog Awards.
There are signs that the business environment is changing slightly as the easing of restrictions allows free market forces to once again catalyse transactions, Sokwanele blog reports.
Kumekucha blog reveals the identity of the Kenyan minister banned from traveling to the United States of America.
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